Essex County Sheriff’s Office

NEWS RELEASE

March 1, 2019

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

 NEWARK — After complaints from neighbours about alleged drug dealing from a West Kinney Street deli called Still Starvin’ detective from the Essex County Sheriff’s Bureau of Narcotics conducted a raid on the premises that resulted in the confiscation of large amounts of marijuana, drug packaging paraphernalia and the arrest of a Union man.

The location at 277 West Kinney St. was across the street from Newark Vocational High School and within 300 feet of West Kinney Junior High School and the Newark Leadership Academy.

“It’s so important we take down these establishments, especially when they are so close to our schools,” said Essex Sheriff Fontoura. “This arrest again proves we need the help of the public to identify drug dealers, and once we have that information we will act swiftly.”

On the evening of Feb. 28, detectives and members of the sheriff’s tactical response team executed a search warrant and converged on the business, where Kendall Hill, 44, was seen through the store window. As police moved toward the store, Hill retreated and refused to open the door. Entry was gained by the tactical squad, through a door fortified with deadbolts and two by fours.

Inside police found 1,313 grams of marijuana, some already packaged for sale, packaging paraphernalia and $610 in cash believed to be from the sale of the drugs.

Hill was charged possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and possession of drug paraphernalia.  He was also charged with distributing near the schools and a public housing development, and fortification of the business.

The sheriff’s bureau of narcotics has members from the sheriff’s office, the Newark Police Department and Bloomfield Police Department.